Former Little Giant BJ Hammer Named Head Football Coach at Whittier

by Brent Harris • January 30, 2006
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Wabash football recordholder BJ Hammer '01 has been named the head football coach at Whittier College, an NCAA Division III school in California.

Hammer served for three seasons as the defensive coordinator for the Poets before accepting the head coaching position. Prior to coaching at Whittier, he was the linebacker coach at Heidelberg College for one season, and served as an assistant coach at Wabash after graduating as a four-year player for the Little Giants.

Hammer earned four varsity letters at Wabash, where he set the school record for tackles for losses in game (five), season (23) and career (58) as a defensive lineman. He also owns the single season quarterback sack record with 15 in 2000, and is tied with his younger brother, Blair Hammer '04, for career sacks with 27-1/2. Blair has been the defensive line coach at Whittier for the past two seasons, working along side his brother.

Captain of the football team as a senior, BJ was a two-time All-American and three-time All-Conference player. He was named the Pete Vaughan Award-winner in 2001, an award given annually to the top Wabash senior athlete as voted on by the athletics department.

Hammer replaces former Wabash head coach Greg Carlson, who resigned from Whittier to accept a position as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League.